The Legal 500

Within Administrative and public law, Jones Day is a third tier firm,

Jones Day ‘really listens to its clients and is able to adapt to their needs’. The six-lawyer practice is led by one of the market’s top advisers in Philippe Delelis, with Nicolas Brice also recommended. The practice is a great choice for high-end public contracts and also has strong regulatory and litigation expertise. It assists public and private sector companies, and represented EDF before the French courts regarding procurement contract renewals for hydropower plants.

Within Aviation Other recommended firms

Within Banking and finance, Jones Day is a third tier firm,

Jones Day’s ‘highly responsive’ five-lawyer practice ‘facilitates negotiations’ through a diplomatic approach, and advises major institutions on acquisition finance acquisition and corporate loans. It recently represented Crédit Agricole, Société Générale and the lending banks in the financing of PAI Partners’ LBO acquisition of Kiloutou. The firm is also advising on financing of major public projects and acting in litigation arising from toxic loans. Practice head Frédéric Gros and counsel Isabelle Maury are recommended.

Within Capital markets, Jones Day is a second tier firm,

Jones Day provides a ‘very high level of service’ for ECM transactions in terms of ‘expertise, reactivity and ability to negotiate’, and also handles DCM matters. It advised Sanofi on its $7bn notes issuance. Linda Hesse, who heads the 11-lawyer team, is regularly instructed by CAC 40 companies and is hands-on at handling international transactions, notably those with US aspects. Renaud Bonnet is also a leading name for advising start-ups. Charles Gavoty is also recommended.

Within Commercial litigation , tier 4

Jones Day’s Laurent Martinet represents multinational companies and high-profile French groups in contractual disputes, and has built a leading client base in the energy, chemicals, retail, aviation and healthcare sectors. It is representing Bombardier in a case against Bombardier Transport France and Renault Trucks regarding the supply of equipment for public transport in Mexico. The team also has a noteworthy product recalls practice.

Within International arbitration, tier 4

Jones Day’s ‘excellent’ team is strongly recommended for advising large corporations in ICC disputes. Michael Bühler, who co-heads the firm’s global practice, is ‘very well introduced in the arbitration world’, has ‘high technical competence’ and is ‘very client-focused’. The ‘very reactive and tenacious’ Pierre Heitzmann shows a ‘deep understanding of the financial and technical elements in a case’ and has ‘good pleading and cross-examination skills’. Consultant Sigvard Jarvin is excellent for Swedish law matters.

Within EU competition and distribution, Jones Day is a third tier firm,

Jones Day represents major French companies in EU cartel and state aid cases. It is acting for Elf Aquitaine and Total in six cartel cases. Eric Morgan de Rivery and Eric Barbier de La Serre provide ‘quick and very professional’ advice, the latter having recently joined from Latham & Watkins.

Within Employment , tier 4

Emmanuelle Rivez-Domont heads Jones Day’s six-lawyer team, which advises a large US client base. In 2011, the workload included restructuring and whistle-blowing advice. Alstom Transport and General Motors are clients. Anne Boileau left the firm.

Within Environment, Jones Day is a second tier firm,

Jones Day’s highly regarded practice has strong experience in health and safety litigation following contamination and toxic releases as well as thorough regulatory expertise in the energy sector, including nuclear and renewables. It represented Société Nationale des Poudres et Explosifs regarding water contamination issues. Françoise Labrousse heads the practice, which was reinforced by of counsel David Desforges, who joined from Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I..

Within Health and life sciences Other recommended firms

Within IT, telecoms and the internet,

Marc d’Haultfoeuille heads Norton Rose LLP’s IT group, which attracted numerous new high-profile instructions and clients in 2011. It is managing multi-jurisdictional outsourcing projects and advising on data protection and social network issues. L’Oréal is a key client. On the telecoms side, the practice is adviser to NRJ Mobile and handles transactions in the Maghreb through Alain Malek. Hervé Castelnau joined Jones Day.

Within Insolvency Other recommended firms

Within Full-service firms, Jones Day is a third tier firm,

Jones Day’s four-lawyer IP team provides ‘a high level of service’. The ‘fast, proactive and very client friendly’ Emmanuel Baud heads the practice, and is highly regarded for his expertise in trade mark, design and copyright law. He advises many leading companies in the media, luxury, fashion and retail industries, including Abrecrombie & Fitch, Bongrain and Sonia Rykiel.

Within Mergers and acquisitions, tier 5

Sophie Hagège leads Jones Day’s 30-lawyer practice, which advises large French companies such as Rhodia and EDF Environment on acquisitions in France and abroad, notably in the US. The team advised Alcatel-Lucent on the sale of Genesys to Permira, and Hervé Castelnau’s arrival from Norton Rose LLP further enhances the firm’s telecoms and media expertise. It also has a strong client base in the biotechnology sector. Wesley Johnson, My Linh Vu-Grégoire, Gaël Saint Olive and Alexandre de Verdun are also recommended.

Within Private equity, Jones Day is a second tier firm,

Jones Day is a leading adviser on venture capital transactions, having built the ‘most prominent client base of start-ups that will become tomorrow’s leading companies’ in the technology and biotechnology fields. Key figure Renaud Bonnet shows ‘business acumen and creativity’, and Charles Gavoty is an emerging talent. The team covers the full spectrum of private equity transactions, and advised DFJ Esprit and Alven on their investment in Qosmos.

Within Energy Energy

Within Project finance, Jones Day is a second tier firm,

Jones Day’s ‘overall level of service is very good’. The team, led by public law expert Philippe Delelis and finance specialist Frédéric Gros, advises sponsors and lenders on large transport and other infrastructure projects in France, including acting for Caisse des Dépôts et Consignation on the French Pentagon project. Laurent Vandomme heads the firm’s energy and natural resources practice, which represents leading energy producers and operators in the renewables, electricity and gas sectors. The team advised Sechilienne-Sidec on the Sendou coal-fired power plant in Senegal.

Within Real estate, Jones Day is a second tier firm,

Jones Day’s strong five-lawyer practice is recommended for major property investment and development work. Recent transactions include advising Predica and Generali on the acquisition of the company owning the Europe Avenue office building. Practice head Jean-Louis Martin has ‘good expertise and a very good sense of the client’, and Vincent Agulhon is a leading name in property tax matters.

Within Tax, Jones Day is a third tier firm,

Jones Day has ‘an excellent team with strong expertise’, and provides ‘high-quality advice’. Practice head Vincent Agulhon is ‘one of the strongest tax advisers in the market’ for property tax matters. Emmanuel de la Rochethulon is the other partner in this six-lawyer team, which also handles project and corporate tax advice and litigation. The group advised Icade on the sale of the Atrium office building.